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MR. ABBOTT'S SERMON 



ON THE DEATH OF 



PRESIDENT IIARRI80N. 






Class SS^A, 
Book >Al3 



^1 



SERMON, 



PREACHED ON THE NATIONAL FAST, 



MAY 14, 1841 ; 



OCCASIONED BY THE DEATH OF 



WILLIA3I HENRY HARRISON. 



Mi 



I 



B7 J. ABBOTT* 

n 

PA.STOR OF THE DANE STREET CHURCH, BEVERLY. 



6 



S A L E M : 

WM. IVES & CO OUaERVER PREaS. 

1841. 



'of 



The following Discourse would not have appeared m. its present form, 
but at the urgent solicitation of an affectionate people. 



SERMON. 



MiCAH VI— 0. 

The Lord's voice crietli unfo the city, and the man of wisdom shall 
see thy name : hear ye tlie rod, and who hath appointed it. 

The observance of a day of fasting, prayer and hu- 
miliation before God, never unseasonable in a great 
nation that has sins to mourn over and repent of, is 
rendered at the present time peculiarly, and solemly 
appropriate, by that affecting dispensation of divine 
Providence, which has but recently thrown the pall of 
death over its capitol, awakened the whole nation's 
sudden surprise, and gathered its mournful sympathies 
and serious thoughts around the prostrate form of its 
Chief Magistrate, — never in the whole period of our 
history has the God of providence spoken with such 
a loud, and solenm voice. The splendid pageantry of 
the Inauguration has scarcely passed away ; the voice 
of festivity and rejoicing, that hailed the accession to 
Presidential honors, of the hero of its applause, has 
scarcely died upon the nation's ear, before the hand 
of death is upon him, and he lies cold and breathless 
before the very shrine of his glory, and amid the very 
fragrance of a nation's incense. How suddenly sur- 
prisingly, and solemnly changed ! Who anticipated 
such an event a few brief months ago.^ Yet sudden 
and surprising as it may be, wc are called upon to 



4 

realize it, in all its stranp,e solemnity, and all its 
affecting power to reach, impress, and humble the 
heart. 

We have already in imagination repaired to 
the scene of a nation's mourning — we have trod- 
den the silent chamber of death, and gazed upon 
the lifeless form reposing in its cold statelincss, of 
him whose name was upon every lip — who but 
recently stood before the nation, the Hero of the 
most exciting struggle, the most agitating, political 
contest we have yet been called to witness, — 
who was crowned at last with the highest honors it 
was in the power of the nation to bestow ; and we 
have turned away with that mingled variety of 
emotion, which the spectacle of fallen greatness is 
adapted to inspire ; especially as it associates itself 
with the highest honors of the nation, and the sym- 
pathies enkindled, by an arduous, contested, and 
eventful struggle — truly are the mighty fallen ; and 
fallen in this nation, where they never fell before ; in 
the chair of supreme authority, invested with the ac- 
tual responsibilities of government, and in the capitol 
of the land — truly the LorcVs voice crieth unto the citi/, 
and to the nation. Never has it been placed in a po- 
sition so solemnly to realize the visitation, and anx- 
iously do we hope and pray that they will hear the 
rod and who hath appointed it. 

The interposition of our civil rulers in summoning 
us together on this occasion is a token that outward 
respect, at least, for the judgments of God, has not 
been lost from among us — but it will redound to our 
reproach, and contribute appallingly to swell our guilt, 
and deepen our condemnation, if it prove to be no 
more than a formal recognition. 



It would more become tlic infidel or llio atheist to 
])ass over this event, standing out as it does in bold 
relief amid the doings of Providence, without bo- 
holdins; in it the liniier of God, and derivinjr from it, 
the most salutary instruction, than it would those who 
profess to acknowledge his reign and to believe in his 
universal administration. 

There is no truth more obvious in the history of 
nations, tlian that the denial of the divine govern- 
ment, practically at least, has prepared the way for 
the revolution and ruin of all that have been over- 
thrown, and through all future time it must end in na- 
tional desolation. The veracity of the divine declar- 
ations in this respect, is most fearfully illustrated, in 
the past history of mankind, and it becomes the duty 
of every christian, devoutly to pray, that this event 
may be sanctified to the nation at large, become the 
means of its spiritual benefit, and not result in its 
aggravated condemnation. 

When God clothes himself in the sublime and sol- 
emn majesty of his power, when he comes forth out 
of his place to move by his afllictive dispensations the 
heart of a whole nation, he expects their reverential 
acknowledgment of his presence, and of the solemni- 
ties of his dealing, — and when his providence is un- 
noticed, when a people rise up from the presence, of 
a national judgment, and return to their folly, world- 
liness and sin, unhumbled and unblest, it cannot be, 
but that his indignation is kindled, and may be ex- 
pected to break out in far more terrible judgments, or 
hopelessly to leave to the full tide and vigor of success- 
ful operation, those causes that will if not speedily, yet 
certainly work out the overthrow, and destruction of 
a people. 



Let us then listen to the voice of God in this sol- 
emn judgment — let us at least endeavour to see his 
name, and cast ourselves down before his awful ma- 
jesty with becoming reverence, in the true spirit of 
such an occasion as this, solemnized, and sanctified, 
by the presence of death in the high places of the 
land — by the gloom that he has shed over the nation, 
the mournful shadows that have fallen from his out- 
stretched sceptre over a whole people. 

It of course is not required by this occasion, or de- 
manded by our profitable improvement of it, that we 
eulogize the character of the dead, or dwell in detail 
upon his eventful life — he has gone beyond the reach 
of applause or censure, he has laid aside the habiliments 
and emblems of official greatness, and descended to 
that tomb where there is no distinction, where the rich 
and the poor meet together, the officially distinguish- 
ed, the unnoticed, and unknown, are gathered upon 
equal terms — he has passed to the scrutiny of the tri- 
bunal of the impartial judge of all, ivho lookeih not on 
the outward appearance, but upon the heart, distin- 
guished by the possession of those elements of moral 
character alone, that will survive destruction. Al- 
ready has he entered upon those destinies that will 
not change, and knows either the dignity and glory of 
the redeemed, or the wretchedness of the outcast and 
banished. We leave him there amid the realities and 
wonders of eternity. 

Even if fully competent to the undertaking, and if 
appropriately belonging to the exercises of this occa- 
sion, the breath of praise that we could render, would 
be of no service to him, and but litdc benefit to our- 
selves — had we nothing upon which to repose a hope 



tiint lie had mot the approbation of God, ni id passed 
away to a bk^sscd eternity. Most sincerely would \ 
trust that this is true of the distinguished dead, and 
that fitted by humble faith in the Redeemer, and 
a saving interest in his atoning blood, he has ex- 
changed the honors and responsibilities of his earthly 
eminence, for the infinitely superior dignities and 
blessedness of heaven. 

As a subject of humiliation and spiritual improve- 
ment, I would notice in this affecting event, — 

I. A most solemn and signal assertion of the pov- 
identlal government of God. There are not a few per- 
haps who will look no fiirther in this event, than to those 
chances and liabilities which attend mortality ; many 
who will rest satisfied in accounting for it, by the 
overwhelming pressure of new and unusual cares, the 
disastrous influence of those exciting scenes and labors, 
which, by too long continuance, or a dispropor- 
tion, that overtasked the energies of nature, resulted 
in this unfortunate issue — here they may suspend 
their inquiries, and proceed no further in their obser- 
vation of the providence of God. But it must surely be 
the sceptical, thoughtless, or careless alone, who can do 
this — if ever an event on earth rebuked the thoughtless 
levity of men, and asserted the supreme and over- 
ruling providence of the Most High, that he giveth 
the kingdom to whomsoever he ivilU it is this event. 

Excitement and overburdening care, the pressure of 
unaccustomed duties, fatigue, and exposure, may have 
been and undoubtedly were the secondary causes 
which contributed to the fatal issue — but, with the 
light shed upon us both from scripture, and the whole 



8 

history of God's providential dealinp^s with mankind, wc 
are not hberty to resign oven these to the disposal of 
chance. A gift so precious, so invaluable, so momen- 
tous as life, can only be in all its circumstances at the 
disposal of him who gave it. Its termination espec- 
ially, so fraught with unutterable consequences to the 
individual who dies, and so important in its bearing 
upon others, cannot without manifest impiety be dis- 
severed from the direction of God. If the very hairs 
of our head are all numbered , if the sparrow Jails not 
to the ground, ^without our father,^ much less without 
him does the ' Hero perish.' 

However we may explain the concurrence of dirine 
agency and direction in each particular, we must 
recognise his administration in them all, or dethrone 
him from his government. It is not then a fortuitous 
stroke that arrests this nation. It was not imper- 
sonated or embodied chance that stole softly into the 
chamber of state and slew the Hero as he slept. — 
It was not a blind fatality to be ceremoniously recog- 
nized because of our interest in the issue; an event to 
be transiently regretted, yet solved upon principles 
of philosophic coldness, and coldly dismissed ; it was 
the solemn messenger of God, who came to execute 
his mournful errand in the form of that disease which 
terminated his mortal existence. God's hand was 
lifted up over the city and the nation, that the 
man of ivisdom, might see his name. It was God 
who in his overruling providence, granted the request 
of a nation's impassioned eagerness, in the choice of 
one whose days were numbered. It was his hand 
that guarded him, amid the battle's rage, and reserved 
him for this impressive hour — that led him out at the 



appointed snason, from t!in ponrofiil rotircmoiU of do- 
mestic and private life, lie bade him give the parl- 
'\n<x look and speak the last farewell, to home, and 
friends, and quiet, he should re-visit and enjoy no 
more — conducted him to the nation's capitol, sustain- 
ed him throuf^h all the preliminary scenes, enthroned 
him in all the responsibilities of official state, directed 
toward him the ea^er eyes, and expectations of the 
nation at large, — that in the dignity of state, amid 
the eventful expectations that crowded around him, 
the thrilling solicitude and anticipations of this whole 
people, he might be suddenly stretched out in death, 
and by his f:ill, send to the extremities of the land, 
with deepest solemnity, the thrilling impression, that 
the Lord God all wise and omnipotent reigneth, and 
will alone be exalted among the nations of the earth — 
it ivas for the nation, emphatically that he died. So 
God designed it — he could have died in no other cir- 
cumstances, calculated so powerfully and so affecting- 
ly to impress it, to conduct it to the throne of his sov- 
ereignty, to an acknowledgment of that administra- 
tion, which none can resist. This I say is the first 
grand effect, of this mournful visitation, to lead this 
nation to see and feel that there is a God who rules 
over men, who demands their submission, obedience 
and service — their constant acknowledgment of de- 
pendence and obligation. 

That we have need to be solemnly reminded, by 
such a signal interposition of Providence, breaking in 
thus suddenly upon us, and unavoidably arousing our 
attention, is not to be questioned. 

How little are we disposed, ordinarily, to recognise 
divine Providence, even in the great, much less the 



10 

inferior events of constant occurrence. Eow little do 
we realize from day to day, that his all pervading 
agency, is diffused through every department of soci- 
ety and life. We almost, imperceptibly, fall into hab- 
its of insensibility and neoligence in this respect. 
The vicissitudes of nature take place around us, in 
accordance with fixed and certain laws — God 

"Retired behind his own creation 
Works unseen — " 

and in the operation of laws and principles which 
we feel to be permanent, we lose sight of the wis- 
dom, which presides over, and the hand that conducts 
the whole. We seem to invest the laws and principles 
of nature, with an agency independently their own, 
and stop at secondary causes, as though these meth- 
ods of operation, demanded by our convenience and 
welfare, were intended to exclude the illustrious 
author of all. 

To the arrangements and vicissitudes of society, 
where the hand of providence should be even more 
distinctly beheld, we seem to transfer the same spe- 
cies of mechanical and even fated agency. Because 
this is a field on which the conduct of men, performs 
so important a part, in the fulfilment of the divine in- 
tentions, we are apt to pause at human agency, with- 
out ascending to the superior wisdom, which presides 
over and directs the whole. Through all the depart- 
ments of our condition, social and political, we be- 
come accustomed to rely upon our own resources, ex- 
ertions, skill or wisdom, and to forget God. We all- 
together repose in this insensibility till some unex- 
pected stroke, like the sudden thunder, bursting from 
the clouds, irresistibly obtrudes the providence of God 



11 

ii[)on us. In a national capacity, particularly, are we 
disposed to rely upon the superior wisdom of our 
Constitution, the perfection of the entire machinery of 
our government, to the exclusion of Ilim, who alone 
has placed us uyjon so distinguished an eminence ; as 
though our combined wisdom, and the superiority of 
our institutions, were abundantly sufficient to sustain 
us without God. 

As a painful evidence of this general insensibility, 
this indifference to the agency of God upon a large 
scale, let me refer you to the last political struggle, 
which has signalized the annals of this country. Was 
ever such a season of tumultuous excitement known 
before ? The whole land was filled with commotion, 
the air resounded from one extremity of the country 
to the other, with the noise of trumpets, the rolling of 
drums, the thunder of cannon, the huzzas of the mul- 
titude. The gilded banner, — the thronging proces- 
sion, — the pageantry of show, — the public rejoicing, — 
the celebration, — and every possible expression of ex- 
cited energy, and phrenzied interest, exhibited one 
wide scene of life, tumult and commotion. Night 
and day, without weariness and without rest, the 
mighty heart of this whole nation seemed to throb, 
with unnatural excitement. Every nerve was strain- 
ed, every energy tasked to the uttermost, recrimina- 
tion, censure, and even abuse were freely measured 
out, and seemed to be the common expression of po- 
litical feeling. I would be far from condemning, the 
proper interest, a nation should feel, in whatever is 
supposed to be connected with its highest welfare. — 
But was not that a scene from which God was too 
fearfully excluded ? Did not the whole nation seem 



12 

rushing on, to fulfil its own intentions, irrespectively 
of him. Is not the impression irresistibly awakened 
by it, that our confidence was in an arm of llesh, our 
trust i7i princes whose breath is in their nostrils, that 
in man, frail man, was all our salvation and all our 
desire? Where could we look for a more distinct 
expression of a Nation's feelings in this respect ? 

When then God has come forth in an event 
like this, confounding all our anticipations, frustrating 
our plans and purposes, and blasting all our hopes, 
suddenly appalling as it were, the whole nation,— 
what is it but a rebuke of our insensibility, a solemn 
assertion of his providential government— how is it 
adapted to lead us to see his name— to hear the rod 
and who hath appointed it. That name seems by this 
event, to be inscribed upon our very heavens in char- 
acters of light. May it be read and pondered, by 
every individual among us— till not a man be found 
to forget or deny the Providence of God. 

II. Tiiis solemn event evidenthj looks upon this 
nation with an aspect oj judgment. 

It not only reminds us impressively of the overruling 
providence of God, but is adapted to remind us too of 
our national guilt. We are professedly a religious 
people, but it is not the mere diffusion of divine truth, 
the extension of religious privileges or the outward 
worship of God, that necessarily makes us so. There 
is such a thing, as 'having a name,' that we live 
and are dead, as professing to know God, yet m 
works denying him— a^nd if we should merely sus- 
pect this nation, and from only a single source, it 
would be on the ground of our unexampled pios- 



13 

pcritv. The natural efloct of '.vorldlv prospcritv, iii- 
dividiially or collectively, is to mak(3 men feel their 
own siifHciency, '• to be full, deny him, and say who 
is the Lord," and that we have actually arrived at 
that guilty climax, CJod himself being judge by this 
event, is there not more than a strong presumption ? 
He surely does not needlessly interpose in such visi- 
tations, but acts with wisdom, in all cases, from rea- 
sons the highest and best. It is as true of nations as 
of individuals, that " he does not aflliet willingly, nor 
grieve the children of men," but for their profit. 

We have suddenly as a nation sprung into exist- 
ence, and as suddenly almost, have reached an emi- 
nence, to w^hich nothing, but the most unparalleled 
combination of flivoral)le circumstances, could have 
conducted us. 

Upborne on the full tide of prosperity, we have ca- 
reered onward, to gigantic greatness, in the unchecked 
and successful operation, of boundless resources and 
salutary laws, distinguished by every thing that can 
possibly make a nation great, by institutions and priv- 
ileges, enjoyed by no other ; it would be useless to 
attempt to conceal the alarming fact that we have 
grown great too, in transgression. Whilst we have 
reason profoundly to acknowledge the goodness of 
God, and devoutly to adore him, stronger reasons, 
probably, than any nation under heaven, yet we have 
boldly ventured to trample upon his authority, to neg- 
lect and set at naught his commands. His judg- 
ments, are not sent forth, but to rebuke and warn, to 
save from farther and more signal displays of his in- 
dignation by begetting timely repentance. And who 



14 

can deny that there is enough in our history to clothe 
us with humiliation. 

It would of course, be impracticable, on this occa- 
sion, to dwell in detail, upon all the sins that might 
be justly charged upon us, as a nation. They pre- 
sent themselves in a melancholy and dark array, they 
gather before us, in an assemblage, that cannot but 
awaken, the portentous solicitude of every heart that 
deprecates the indignation of heaven. With all our 
advancement in refinement and knowledge, amid all 
the civil and social blessings which gather around us, 
it cannot be denied by any one familiar with our his- 
tory, that our iniquities, have seemed to be conducted 
upon a more gigantic scale, and perpetrated with less 
compunction than ever. 

Enough has already transpired, to show us that the 
principles of eternal truth, and righteousness, are not 
made the basis of our national legislation. Few com- 
paratively of our leading men, profess a cordial alle- 
giance to the government of God, and while the truths 
of Revelation, have been recognised, and its precepts 
recommended, on rare and great occasions, and in the 
stateliness of official formality, yet those precepts have 
been directly contravened, by the sanction of legisla- 
tive authority, in the very face of piety, under the 
double guilt of professed respect for it. It seems to 
be tacitly understood, that however it may be with 
individuals, government at least is above subjection 
even to the laws of God, and in painful accordance 
with such an assumption, our policy has been charac- 
terized by selfishness, recklessness and avarice. — If 
God requires us under all circumstances, individually 
or collectively, officially or unofficially, to pay a constant 



15 

and supreme regard to his will, then fc^w, it seems to 
me, can venture to ])lead that deference on behalf of 
our national character. The plea would he too sadly 
confronted by the nation's acts — and what a position is 
it for a nation to occupy in reference to God — at va- 
riance with his supreme and everlasting government ! 
The more widely that discrepancy devclopes itself, we 
become the more befitting su])jects of his judgments. 
When we remember that this nation was founded in 
prayers and tears, and self denial, and confidence in 
God, that with his own hand he planted us a choice 
vine, in this goodly soil; and has kindly conducted us, 
through the most eventful scenes, nourished and 
brought us up, does not our degeneracy become the 
more aggravated, our opposition to him the more inex- 
cusable ? — What enlarged expectations may not God, 
have justly cherished of us, in reference to the moral 
and social elevation of mankind, furnished as we arc 
with the means and resources of regenerating and 
blessing the world. — How dark then, and portentous 
our denial of him! 

If facts were needed to substantiate this high 
charge, they might be found in painful frequency — in 
the personal irreligion of many invested with high 
official trusts. In the corruption and profligacy de- 
veloping themselves publicly and privately in our capi- 
tol. In the expressed opinions of not a few in au- 
thority over us. In the oppressive legislative acts, 
which have grown out of an all-grasping spirit of ag- 
grandisement — trampling upon all that lies in the path, 
toward the attainment of its wishes. In the profana- 
tion of the sabbath, legally sanctioned, and patro- 
nised by the example of civil rulers ; — that institution 



16 

based upon the supreme authority of God, and involv- 
ing the highest interests of man, abused and perverted 
to secular avocations and pursuits. In the burning 
tide of legalized intemperance, scattering moral deso- 
lation and death over the land — destroying public 
health, peace and happiness — substituting for them 
poverty, disease, crime and wretchedness. 

And can we omit that dark foul blot in our history, 
the oppression and slavery of millions among us, — 
can we specify the sources of the nation's guilt, without 
writing down this grand moloch of our abominations.? 
As a prolific source of pollution and crime, slavery 
stands unrivalled, on the annals of human history. — 
As it exists in our own land, it is a flagrant invasion 
of the rights of fellow creatures. To our perpetual 
reproach, we occupy alone the guilty pre-eminence 
among the civilized nations of the earth, of perpetua- 
ing and defending this monster source of sin. In the 
superior light of the Gospel, which beams upon us, we 
take away the rights of the poor, the friendless, and 
of him that hath no helper, and withhold justice and 
judgment — and as certainly as a righteous God, pro- 
tected, by his immediate legislation, even the rights 
of servitude, rights which even there, were not to be 
entrusted, to irresponsible control, just so certainly, 
must his indignation be enkindled against us, for the 
lawless exercise of power, and for the crimes, impu- 
rities and merciless severities which have grown out of 
the dark system. 

If we descend from our political eminences, from 
transgressions and enormities, officially sanctioned, 
and protected by legislation, and go abroad through 
the nation, irrespectively of these, we find enough to 



17 

admonisli ns of divino jiuli^monts. Look only nt the 
all-absorbing and besetting sin of this nation, its deep- 
ly rooted worldliness; our gnM^dy aspirations after ,";aiii 
Jiave become almost proverbial, and have given birth 
to ten thousand schemes and practices of injustice and 
wrong. It has rolled like a gigantic tide over this 
land, burying alike the claims of duty and the convic- 
tions of conscience ; the whole nation seems to be 
rushing onward in the pursuit of gain, with a remorse- 
less eagerness. Though the privileges of religion are 
more numerous, and extensively diffused, than in the 
days of our pious ancestors, it seems as though the 
spirit and power of worldliness, had maintained a 
triumphant ascendancy, that it had grown with our 
growth and strengthened with our strength. It 
seems as though the God of this world, stimulated 
and goaded by the appliances of truth, and the influ- 
ences of religion, had only climbed to a higher seat, and 
entrenched himself in a more desperate obstinacy, for- 
tifying his position by all the nerve and vigor of wick- 
edness, so wide and vast is the prevalence of this sin. 
Its unholy fruits are seen from the highest to the low- 
est places, from the gigantic monopolizing knavery of 
public institutions down to the single handed reckless 
adventurer, who by the magic of speculation, can con- 
vert rocks and stones into fruitful fields — in the 
church as well as out of it, paralysing, withering and 
blighting its sensibilities, and destroying its influence. 
To say nothing of other characteristics of our national 
guilt, the entire neglect of religious duties by vast 
multitudes — the growing profanity and indififerenre to 
restraint on the part of the young — the pollutions 
and vices of our great cities — and the shocking scenes 



18 •*• 

of assassination and cold blooded murder, which we 
almost daily see recorded in our public journals, betray- 
ing the most frightful forms of immorality and sin — 
these are enough to fill our hearts with portentous so- 
licitude. Can ^ve survey the sad realities of our con- 
dition, without being reminded of our guilt, and fore- 
warned of national judgment. We have already had 
more than intimation of this, in the desolating march 
of pestilence, in wide spread pecuniary embarrassment, 
in destructive conflagrations — but the nation is not 
recalled, and again God steps forth and prostrates our 
very head, when scarcely inducted into the responsi- 
bihties of office, and makes us for a season a fatherless 
people. What a solemn interval was that in our na- 
tion's history, when its ruler lay cold and dead in his 
silent chamber — it seems as though the very angel of 
God's presence guarded the door and pointed upward. 
May that providence speak to every heart, before a 
more distressing infliction shall come. 

It is a fearful thing for a nation as well as an indi- 
vidual to fall into the hands of the living God. That 
anger which was kindled against the nations of anti- 
quity because of their deep depravity, their general 
corruption and profligacy, has swept them from the 
earth, and they have descended into the tomb of ob- 
livion ; the places of their proud citadels, are now 
scarcely recognised by the pensive traveller; their mag- 
nificence, is but a heap of ruins ; their pride and 
pomp, and splendor have passed away, like a faded 
vision. The earth is filled with solemn memorials of 
divine indignation — scarred with the records of his 
justice against the nations and kingdoms that serve 
not God. That justice sits enthroned in the appall- 



ft 19 

ing solitude of the desert, upon every crumbling relic 
of ancient magnilicence and sj)lendor. Earth's whole 
history is but the history of God's providence, unfold- 
ing itself in the stern support of righteousness and 
the punishment of sin. Causes the most secret and 
apparently remote, have been suffered to work their 
way unchecked, till the overthrow of the most flour- 
ishing kingdoms has been accomplished, and the rev- 
olutions and agitations of nations now in existence 
tend only to illustrate the same great truth. Secure- 
ly as we may think we stand, yet there are means in 
these resources which are infinite, that can speedily 
and certainly bring about our destruction. No one 
nation or individual have hardened themselves against 
God and prospered. Though we place our nest in (he 
very stars, yet can he bring its cloicn to the ground. 
There seems to be an impression of false security, 
arising from the very peculiarities of our condition ; 
our superior light and freedom, and the influence we 
may throw abroad upon the world, to regenerate and 
bless it, as though our existence were essential to the 
accomplishment of the purposes of God. Yet with all 
our multiplied privileges, and means of blessing to 
mankind, God can do without us, and will inevitably 
cast us off if we despise his authority and abuse our 
trust. He can raise up other and more suitable instru- 
ments, to accomplish his gracious designs, and cause 
our distinguished and unparalleled privileges, to result 
in our more overwhelming: condemnation. This is 
but the process, which has been developing in this 
world. It is as true of nations as of individuals. No 
man livethjor himself. God has a purpose to answer 
in their establishment and elevation, and if that purpose 



2a 

be not realized, they arc overturned or fade and per- 
ish. The process moving onward is a regenerating 
process, either leaving sin, inevitably and certainly to 
work out its ovv^n punishment, or calling for the more 
speedily exterminating power of divine judgments. 
This train of events, is still in operation, to reach the 
grand climax, the establishment of truth and right- 
eousness among the nations. Till then there shall 
be overturning and overturning, and amid the des- 
olations of the divine hand, the destroying angel may 
yet number the days of our prosperity. 

It is but presumption to harbor such a thought — 
it is wickedlv, to entrench ourselves in our own se- 
curity, to pervert and abuse our blessings. 

Whatever indications, then, of the providence of 
God, point us to his displeasure, should be hailed as 
the signal for national humiliation and repentance. 
And now assuredly the Lord's voice crieth to us of 
judgment, the nation is gathered to the house of 
mourning, to the sepulchre of its greatness. An afflic- 
tive dispensation has gone forth, and shall it be un- 
sanctified ! Shall we pass on heedless of the rod, and 
who hath appointed it, rather let us be humbled in 
the dust in deep contrition, and let our prayer ascend, 
to him who smites that his anger may be turned away. 

III. IFe are furnished in this event, with a solemn 
commentary on the vanity of human greatness. 

How transient, how like a dream it passes away, 
but yesterday as it were, and the Hero of the nation 
was clothed with its dignities and honors. To-day 
lie lies motionless in death, insensible to praise or 
blame. Would that this nation could stand by his 



♦ 21 

coffin, and look upon his pallid foatnros, wonUl lliai 
they could gather about his grave, and sec inipressive- 
Iv, the end of all thinirs human, llou' vain arc all the; 
triumphs of a day; death will dislodge us from the lof- 
tiest stations, we must descend at his bidding, and be 
disrobed of all the habiliments of rank or greatness. 
But yesterday the shouts of the nation rent the air, to 
day the shadows of d(vath rest upon its glory, and 
gather about its hopes. And is it for this, the sons 
of men are toiling and struggling, taxing every power 
and enerirv, straiuiu'i everv nerve, wairinir an incessant 
warfare upon their fellows, madly and recklessly scal- 
ing the very steeps of ambition, periliu'^ the interests 
of their immortal souls, for the conquests of but an 
hour. Setting; their heart upun that which is not, 
objects that fade and die in their very possession. 
What a lesson is providence reading to this worldly 
and ambitious nation. How humbling is this event, 
prostrating and scattering to the dust the highest 
honors, for which a human being could pant. How 
trifling; do all things human appear, w^hen contem})lat- 
ed, by the side of the coffin and upon the verge of 
eternity. Here they part with their fictitious gran- 
deur, yet how slow are we to learn the solemn lesson. 
To the leading men of this nation especially, is the 
lesson read with emphatic power. May it make dcej) 
and abiding impressions upon their hearts. IMay they 
learn that the world passes away, and all the objects 
of its desire, that all flesh is grass and all the goodli- 
ness thereof, is as the flower of the field — the grass 
withereth and the flower thereof fadeth away, but the 
word of the Lord abideth forever. Whilst all (-'Ise is 
fading, this exists from generation to generation in 



undccaying vigor — and in the midst of death, bj its 
sanctifying inlhiencc fits us for the skies. 

IV. fVe have an individual warning in this event 
of the uncertainty of life, and the nearness of 
eternity. 

We see that we all must die. No man can redeem 
his brother, or give to God a ransom for him. We 
must come down from the highest stations, be dis- 
robed by death and laid in the silence of the tomb. 
The great, the wise and the mighty are undistino;uish- 
ed here. Let us gather about the solemn tomb of the 
nation's dead, and there behold the end of man: — 
That he cometh forth as a flower, and is cut doivn. 
He fleeth also as a shadow and continueth not ; and 
Jet the impressive providence, stimulate us to prepare 
for that solemn change. Let us be pervaded by suit- 
able feelings in view of our own mortality, and realize 
that the unsparing stroke of death, which stops not 
at the palace or the throne, will soon enter our hum- 
ble dwellings charged with the execution of the same 
momentous errand. And are we prepared, by faith 
in the great Redeemer, should we be soon or sudden- 
ly removed, to dwell on high ? He that helieveth on 
me, said the Saviour, though he loere dead yet shall 
he live. It surely is not inappropriate, to put into the 
lips of departed greatness, be ye also ready, for in 
such an hour as ye think not the son of man cometh. 

The event to which I have thus rapidly directed 
your attention, is certainly an impressive and solemn 
one, and let it be our prayer that it may be sanctified 
to the nation and to all. Whatever political predilec- 
tions may be, the warfare of party strife is disarmed 



23 -^ 

of all its hostilitv, at the door of llio sppiilrhrn. Iln 
must be a bad inan, indeed, whose party rancour 
would intrude itself into the solemn precincts of the 
tomb. Let all other feelings be swallowed up, and 
lost in this impressive visitation of Providence — and 
one universal aim pervade our hearts to hear the rod 
and who hath appointed it. 



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